[floatingurboat]

Hello, I'm new here with a possible bipolar diagnosis (my psych is reluctant to actually give it to me, but sent me here to connect with other people who have it, so...) I've tried a couple medications so far that have had intolerable side effects. I was wondering if anyone has tried lithium to help with their mood fluctuations? I've been prescribed this and am reluctant to take it, I've been reading about it relentlessly (I get a bit obsessive about reading on my medications) and I wanted someone with personal experience to tell me how it worked for them. If I posted this in the wrong place I apologize profusely, I just thought I'd ask in the forum where people who have what I'm supposed to take it for actually have the diagnosis. Any responses would be very much appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read my post and dealing with my noobishness!

[benzenering]

Different people are going to react differently to the same med. Some people of loads of side effects from a particular med, others will have minimal side effects from the same med.

To answer your question, I'm on 900 mg lithium. I have a hand tremor. It's a side effect I'll tolerate, as this med works for me.

[floatingurboat]

I totally get the fact that different people have different symptoms/ways they react to meds. I get a bit obsessive about researching my medications before I take them and finding out personal experiences before I 'swallow the pill' so to speak tends to put me at ease. I'm not sure why but personal experiences seem more real to me than just reading a cold list of possible side effects off of a drug website (which I do as well). This post is mainly to quell my panicky feeling before I finally submit and begin my medication. Thanks for the swift response!

[Curiosity77]

Originally Posted by benzenering

Different people are going to react differently to the same med. Some people of loads of side effects from a particular med, others will have minimal side effects from the same med.

To answer your question, I'm on 900 mg lithium. I have a hand tremor. It's a side effect I'll tolerate, as this med works for me.

Lithium tremors can be reduced with B vitamins. I think it's B6, but I'm not positive, it may be B12. It's new research, so your pdoc may not be aware. Worth a try?

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[Victoria'smom]

I won't go on lithium because it has way to many scary side effects.

[LacunaCoiler]

I agree with Miguel'sMom on this one. There's way too many scary side effects and as hard as my pdoc pushes to get me on them I push just as hard (if not harder) to stay off of it.

[Talanic]

I was on Lithium for awhile. But for some reason my body was hanging on to it so the amount in my system was more around the toxic amount so had to stop it. Plus it made me twitch a lot. That and it just honestly wasn't making me feel so great. It did help though... But not worth it. Plus I hated all the blood tests. But I have talked to people who are completely fine on it and hardly have any side effects.

[BioAdoptMom3]

Our 14 y/o DD has been on it since being diagnosed and it has really helped her - her moods are so much more stable (adding Abilify a week ago has helped even more). She had some mild hand tremors for about 3 days, but those are gone now and she hasn't complained of any other side effects, nor has she had any that we have noticed!

I would at least give it a try!

Nancy

[Baroness4tea]

Originally Posted by floatingurboat

I totally get the fact that different people have different symptoms/ways they react to meds. I get a bit obsessive about researching my medications before I take them and finding out personal experiences before I 'swallow the pill' so to speak tends to put me at ease. I'm not sure why but personal experiences seem more real to me than just reading a cold list of possible side effects off of a drug website (which I do as well). This post is mainly to quell my panicky feeling before I finally submit and begin my medication. Thanks for the swift response!

I do the same obsessive reading about meds before taking them. I read about other meds I should take instead. I read so much because I am afraid of medication. I lost the fear for a while but it is back again. I wish someone had advice to make it easier to take the first pill. Good luck with the lithium. It is one drug I have not tried as it is not supposed to work that well for rapid cycling bp which us what I have.

[wing]

I tried lithium and my skin became alligator skin and my hair started falling out (it grew right back). I would try it because it's cheap. If you don't like it, ask about lamictal.

[Can-I-Say]

I too have been thinking about asking my doctor to switch me over to lithium or another alternative for Seroquel... I've been taking Seroquel for about 9 months now, and while it has helped with the depression quite a bit, the mania is still out of control.

I don't like the sound of scary side effects :/

[Nightside of Eden]

I refuse to consider lithium because I feel it's far too physically dangerous for any kind of long-term use. One of the people in my bipolar support group was on it for 17 years and now he needs a kidney transplant. It's not worth it.

[Baroness4tea]

Has anyone tried latuda? What side effects have you had? What symptoms has it helped? Is it activating or does it make you sleepy?

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[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by Baroness4tea

Has anyone tried latuda? What side effects have you had? What symptoms has it helped? Is it activating or does it make you sleepy?

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I was on Latuda for about 3 months. It was not the med for me!

I became very nauseous on it and lost my appetite almost completely, and because of how much food you need to take it with, I puked at least once a week from it due to not having enough in my stomach.

I had to take it at night because it made me tired, although not tired enough to let me sleep well (but most things don't work too well for me in terms of sleep).

It also was not very effective at all, and my moods were all kinds of wonky. I switched back to Seroquel (which I had been on for about a year prior to Latuda, and only came off because at a higher dose I was having some side effects and my pdoc figured trying something else wouldn't really hurt)...and it's been about a year since then, and I have no intentions of changing meds any time soon!!

[roads]

I went on lithium after coming off of Topamax because of side effects. I gained about 25 pounds in two months. I just didn't think that was necessary to have a good med.
I've been on Cymbalta (a high dosage) for many years, now trying to add Geodon ... but I'm having side effect issues once again

[Baroness4tea]

Thanks singdance! I forgot about the food thing. I think, if I start up meds again, I will stick to the seroquel.

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[Baroness4tea]

Roads...have you tried depakote for your mood stabilizer? That and seroquel really stabilized me. The main side effect from those, for me, was a good night's sleep! Hope you find something soon. Those side effects really get in the way at times...so hard to stay with life while you are switching up meds. Hang in there!

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[roads]

Thanks, Baroness4tea. I believe that's the newton the list. We have to watch for drun interactions and much as side effects.
roads